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Westie pup advice
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12-06-2010 9:37am#1
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Hey guys. We are getting our new puppy on Tuesday! I made a check list to help prepare. He's 8 weeks old today!
Food
What is the best food for a Westie pup? I'll make sure to ask the owner what he food he is on now.
Keep him on what the owner is giving him for now. Food can be hit and miss with some westies so it can be matter of trial and error. Arden Grange and James Wellbeloved are both very good foods.
Vet/Boosters/Meds
We have a vet appoinment for Thursday. The owner said he's had his parvo, he was wormed. I'll get more details when I meet him. He's got a sheet with all the vaccinations details! Where's the best place for getting him micro chipped?
Get him chipped at the vets. He won't feel a thing when its done.
Bedding
We've got his bed set up in the kitchen. When do we even think of buying a kennel? We're puppy-proofing the house today. There will always be someone at home.
Our fella is a complete house dog, sleeps in the house so I couldn't advise you re: kennel.
Insurance
Looks like we're going with Allianze.
They are pretty reasonable
Training
I hear the DSPCA do excellent training courses. Money will go to animals in need so win/win.
We're gonna crate train him, any advice appreciated.
I so regret not crate training our fella, didn't do enough research on time.
Journey
We'll be collecting him on Tuesday in Wexford. Any advice for the car journey? What should we transport him in?
When I brought my fella home, I kept him on my lap for the entire journey. It was a 25min drive and he slept away until we got home. I felt he'd been traumatised enough by being taken from his siblings. I also broke with convention on the 1st night. I kept him in his new bed in the floor of our bedroom and there wasn't one single whine or cry. Admittedly, I'd to sleep with one eye opened for toilet breaks but as the week progressed I moved the bed further out of the room every night until it was on the landing and after a week he settled grand downstairs in the kitchen
Last, but most important, his name :pac:
I think he should be called Walter or Casper!
I like Walter!
Also, our last dog was a smooth fox terrier, she was a great pet. What are Westies in general like? I have a 3 year old niece who I imagine, will want to play with him! The pup is already growing up with children so hopefully no problems there!
I think I've got everything :P
My answers are above in bold! Get him used to kids as soon as possible just be aware that like any terrier type dog they often don't like being pulled and dragged at so supervision is the name of the game. Start brushing him straight away so he'll get used to being groomed by you.
Best of luck with him! They are the cheekiest little puppies who will test you to your limits so you have to be strong willed and keep the training consistent! Those big eyes are very easy to give into!!!
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I agree with what has been said above. We feed our westie mix of the Royal Cainin West Highland Terrier 21 and Orijen (was fussy so when mix of brands worked when changing we stuck with it!!!)
Only comment I wanted to add was in relation to your niece. My nephews are around our westie everyday and we have had no problems although when i am there he can sometimes like a little extra attention ha ha. One thing I found was because they are so cute and cuddley looking one of my nephews in particular always wanted to hug him and the westie really doesn't like so maybe explain this to your niece before he arrives
They are a fabulous pet so affectionate and great company. I would strongly advise training from the beginning as they are very headstrong and can be stubborn if they decide they are the boss:D
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Where's the best place for getting him micro
Congrats on your new baby
but minor alarm bells ringing here - is this pup being advertised as IKC reg? If so the breeder would have to have gotten him chipped already to register him?
For the car journey I had our guy (a golden retriever) in a blanket on my lap from Tipp. to Dublin and he slept the whole time and no accidents either.
I have to laugh about the crate training - how handy it must be when the dog is small and you don't need a huge crate taking up half the room! Crate training is the way to go - our guy was housetrained by 3 months because we crated him at night and then during the day out every 30 mins or so. Just be prepared for early morning toilet trips but stick with it - it's worth it when they're trained and not going to the loo all over the house!
Also buy some spare socks! :pac:0 -
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Hey he's been home about 3 hours now, he's settling in grand. He's very playful, and nipping a lot. I've been overruled on the name, he's called Sam.
He bites fingers and feet a lot. What's the best way to discourage this? Simply telling him No! or letting out a yelp?
Here's some pics:
Attacking a tea towel
Here he is on the deck
By his water bowl
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My westie, Holly, is now on Beta senior. She's about 13 or 14 years old now. Please remember: westies are ratters. We give her a durable garden glove, and she attacks it every so oftenHe's whining quite a bit now. He's on this puppy food called Beta. The breeder said to mix it with milk and some dog biscuits.
Try and let her mix with other dogs, and get your niece to learn about how not to treat dogs. Most importantly, ensure she never creeps up on the dog from behind, and try to "catch" the dog. Most dogs tend to snap at this.
My own westie hates small kids (used to back away from them, barking) as we think she had a run in with one when she was younger, and isn't all that friendly with larger dogs. Thus, get your dog to meet other dogs, and ensure the niece treats the dog correctly.
Finally, is your westie throughbred, or not? If she is, find out from where you got her what shampoo to use, as their skin can be irritated by the wrong one.0 -
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Hey he's been home about 3 hours now, he's settling in grand. He's very playful, and nipping a lot. I've been overruled on the name, he's called Sam.
He bites fingers and feet a lot. What's the best way to discourage this? Simply telling him No! or letting out a yelp?
Here's some pics:
Attacking a tea towel
Here he is on the deck
By his water bowl
Biting a fingers and toes is normal for a pup because he is prob teething and so on. I would suggest you get him a soft toy in a few weeks when he is older, becuase when we got our westie 13 years ago, he ate the legs of our good table and chairs in the dining room when his teeth were coming down!!
Other than that, if he goes for your fingers but ball your hand into a fist and he will soon learn that he cant bite!
He looks adorable by the way! Wish my little man was still a puppy!! They learn quickly aswell so you should have no bother with them at all!!0 -
My westie, Holly, is now on Beta senior. She's about 13 or 14 years old now. Please remember: westies are ratters. We give her a durable garden glove, and she attacks it every so often
Try and let her mix with other dogs, and get your niece to learn about how not to treat dogs. Most importantly, ensure she never creeps up on the dog from behind, and try to "catch" the dog. Most dogs tend to snap at this.
My own westie hates small kids (used to back away from them, barking) as we think she had a run in with one when she was younger, and isn't all that friendly with larger dogs. Thus, get your dog to meet other dogs, and ensure the niece treats the dog correctly.
Finally, is your westie throughbred, or not? If she is, find out from where you got her what shampoo to use, as their skin can be irritated by the wrong one.
He's already met my niece, they had a play chase. He was good with her and vica versa.wallygreengiant wrote: »Biting a fingers and toes is normal for a pup because he is prob teething and so on. I would suggest you get him a soft toy in a few weeks when he is older, becuase when we got our westie 13 years ago, he ate the legs of our good table and chairs in the dining room when his teeth were coming down!!
Other than that, if he goes for your fingers but ball your hand into a fist and he will soon learn that he cant bite!
He looks adorable by the way! Wish my little man was still a puppy!! They learn quickly aswell so you should have no bother with them at all!!
He's got a chew to right beside him but he prefers my fingers :pac:
He's having a sleep now. Hope he's not settled for the night, as I hope he goes toilet before I go to bed.0 -
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wallygreengiant wrote: »I wouldnt say he is settled for the night. Id say he is just having a nap.
If he doesnt wake before you sleep tho throw some newspaper around his bed and by the door. Chances are that he will want to go as far away from his bed as possible.
Also use a lot of paper and spread it out, dogs dont like to mix their business on the same paper if you know what i mean!! LOL
Just enjoy it tho, he will grow so fast!! Also I read a point earlier about using shampoo on their skin. You should ask your vet about it when you go. Westies are really prone to skin conditions so you should try not to wash them often. Use a mild neutral shampoo when you do. Other then that.....Have fun you might be in for a long night.
If he doesnt settle a hot water bottle and a little clock in his bed will help him. makes him think he is still with his mother and siblings!!
Im so jealous Id love to be starting out again!! That makes me feel so old and I was only 10 when we got our little fella LOL
If you want to toilet train him go right ahead I'll talk to the vet about his skin.
And to answer a previous questions, noth his parents are IKC registered Westies.0 -
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Well the night went without any problems! He went to the toilet in a newspaper but I think that was luck :P He also destroyed another sheet of newspaper!
He was fed at 7 am, I'll aim his next feed at 11. He howled a little bit last night. I introduced him to a tennis ball and he loves it!
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